EJE, vol. 121 (2024)

Entry by brute force: An unusual behaviour displayed by Scaurus uncinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), to access nests of Messor barbarus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in SpainOriginal article

Juan A. DELGADO, Ricardo L. PALMA

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 324-340, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.034  

We describe a new and unusual myrmecophilous behaviour displayed by the darkling beetle, Scaurus uncinus (Forster, 1771) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), accessing nests of the harvester ant, Messor barbarus (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in southeast Spain. The beetles enter the interior of the ant nests using a relatively primitive strategy based only on brute force, which we name "brute force entries". To understand the significance of this behaviour, we have studied the interactions of these two species in the field and in the laboratory during six years. Our observations confirm that specimens of S. uncinus...

Transcriptome analysis reveals glycometabolism and antioxidation-related genes involved in the antifungal immune response of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae against Beauveria bassiana infectionOriginal article

Yongkai MAO, Jiequn YI, Yinjie CHENG, Han WU, Jihu LI, Mingjiang LIN, Hanliang XU, Zhenqiang QIN, Jianbai LIU

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 310-323, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.033  

Spodoptera frugiperda damages crops around the world and has developed resistance to many pesticides. Beauveria bassiana, a fungus that is harmless to humans and the environment, is widely used in pest control. In our study, differentially expressed genes between S. frugiperda larvae, both exposed and unexposed, to B. bassiana were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. More than 160 Gb of clean data were obtained, and 2767 and 2892 DEGs were identified in LH36vsCK36 and LH144vsCK144, respectively. To explore the roles of glycometabolism and antioxidation-related enzyme genes in S. frugiperda against B. bassiana...

Does pre-exposure to mild drought enhance desiccation resistance in Collembola?Original article

Elena BAREZZI, Stine SLOTSBO, Martin HOLMSTRUP

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 303-309, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.032  

Species of springtails (Collembola) have a stratified distribution along the soil/air profile and present an opportunity to study adaptive traits relating to a gradient of fluctuating humidity. The habitat of eu-edaphic species (found in deeper litter and soil layers) secures a relatively stable humidity, whereas hemi-edaphic (found in upper litter layers) and epigeic springtails (found on soil surface or vegetation) can experience an increased range of moisture fluctuation with much more rapid shifts between extremes. We hypothesized that the capacity for acclimation to drought conditions is better developed in species associated with the soil surface...

Experimental and comparative analysis of masquerade in flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)Original article

Tadashi SHINOHARA, Alexander S. KONSTANTINOV

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 296-302, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.031  

Prey animals employ masquerade to avoid recognition by visual predators by developing a resemblance to inedible objects in their environment. Phytophagous flea beetles seem to resemble models of their own manufacture. While feeding they cause light- or dark-coloured hole-like damage on the leaves of their host plants that resembles the beetle's body in colour and size. Resemblance to the model and the frequency of the model can influence the efficiency of masquerade. To examine masquerade efficiency in light- and dark-coloured beetles, we evaluated their survival benefits from resembling feeding damage in the field. This was done by using two species...

Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter nichesOriginal article

Andreas KLEEBERG, Udo STEINHÄUSER, Gunnar LISCHEID

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 284-295, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.030  

High temperatures that prevail at sun-exposed sites such as heaths, depressions, or on slopes, increase the risk of desiccation for rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Therefore, atmospheric and sub-atmospheric humidity determine the microclimates and thus habitat preference and activity of xerothermophilous species. In the nature reserve Marienfließ, a heathland in the south of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Northeast German Lowlands, air temperature and humidity were recorded year-round along a transect at 10 sites, i.e. where the vegetation was more dense and more humid than where the vegetation was sparse and it was drier, using data loggers placed in...

The effect of maternal factors of Cotesia glomerata (Braconidae) on its larval competitor Hyposoter ebeninus (Ichneumonidae)Short Communication

Maximilien A.C. CUNY, Mitchel E. BOURNE, Ruben BOS, Antonino CUSUMANO, Erik H. POELMAN

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 280-283, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.029  

Parasitoids of different species frequently develop in the same host, a phenomenon referred to as "multiparasitism". Although the outcomes of multiparasitism have been well-documented in the literature, the underlying mechanisms, particularly the substances injected by a female parasitoid along with her egg(s) into a host during parasitism, remain relatively unexplored. Previous work on parasitoids associated with the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) has shown that the larva of the solitary parasitoid Hyposoter ebeninus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) has a higher survival but a longer development...

Bioaccumulation of pesticides in carabid beetles in a vineyard and olive grove under integrated pest managementCarabidological special issueOriginal article

Lucija ŠERIĆ JELASKA, Mišel JELIĆ, Barbara ANĐELIĆ DMITROVIĆ, Tomislav KOS

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 269-279, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.028  

Intensive use of pesticides is among the main drivers of biodiversity loss, especially of insects. Here, field concentrations of chemical synthetic pesticides were measured in soil and carabid beetles in a vineyard (VP) and olive grove (OP), in two consecutive years. The aim was to determine if active ingredients in pesticides applied in the field accumulate in carabids and how this correlates with treatment intensity. Carabids and soil samples were collected at a vineyard and olive grove in Zadar County in Croatia, soil in 2018 and 2019 and carabids in 2019. Both were under integrated pest management (IPM), with a total of 34 pesticides applied, between...

Identification and functional analysis of six DNAJ genes from Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in response to UV-B stressOriginal article

Long-Chun HE, Jian-Yu MENG, Guy SMAGGHE, Chang-Li YANG, Xue TANG, Chang-Yu ZHANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 260-268, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.027  

Ultraviolet B (UV-B) is a significant environmental factor affecting insect development, survival, and reproduction. DNAJ proteins are molecular chaperones found ubiquitously in insects that are crucial for their adaptation to environmental stresses. This study aimed to elucidate the roles of DNAJ genes in the response of Myzus persicae to UV-B stress. Herein, we identified six DNAJ genes in the aphid M. persicae, a devastating agricultural pest. We analyzed their expression profiles at different stages of development, in different tissues and for various durations of UV-B exposure. The expression levels of MpDNAJC30,...

The predators attacking soft scales (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) in SerbiaOriginal article

Marina DERVIŠEVIĆ, Tanja DROBNJAKOVIĆ, Draga GRAORA

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 252-259, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.026  

This study aimed to determine the diversity of species of predators attacking scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Serbia. Over a four-year period, at 25 locations and on 25 host plants infested with 16 species of Coccidae, a total of 18,050 predators were collected and reared. Among them, were 16 species belonging to 7 families and 5 insect orders (Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, and Neuroptera). Six species, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia variegata, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, Forficula auricularia, Deraeocoris ruber and Oxycarenus lavaterae, were recorded for the first time feeding on coccid...

Bio-ecology and management approaches of yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)Review

Muhammad RAMZAN, Tianyuan PANG, Longfei SHI, Unsar NAEEM-ULLAH, Shafqat SAEED, Tiantao ZHANG, Waheed Ali PANHWAR, Yongjun ZHANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 234-251, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.025  

The yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis is a well-known agricultural pest with significant impacts on crops from Southeast Asia to Australia. It has also become one of the major pests of corn (Zea mays) in China. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the bio-ecology, potential damage, and management of C. punctiferalis on various economically important crops. The review discusses the current management strategies for C. punctiferalis, mainly based on chemical insecticides, and highlights their limitations and sustainability concerns. The authors emphasize the urgent need for sustainable integrated pest...

Carabid diversity in alpine environments: Investigating biogeographic and ecological traits of the communities living in the Dolomites (Italy)Carabidological special issueOriginal article

Roberto PIZZOLOTTO

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 219-233, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.024  

In the landscape of the Dolomites, within the protected area of the Paneveggio - Pale di S. Martino Park in the Eastern Alps of Italy, a study was conducted to explore the distribution of carabid beetles. To achieve this, pitfall traps were placed along a 1000-m elevation gradient, following the bioclimatic gradient from spruce forests to the resilient pioneer vegetation in the extreme high-altitude environments. The research revealed that both community diversity and biogeographic diversity exhibited a clear correlation with the bioclimatic gradient. As one ascended to higher altitudes, the composition and distribution of carabid beetle communities...

Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new dataOriginal article

Pablo MORA, José M. RICO-PORRAS, Teresa PALOMEQUE, Ana VALDIVIA, Diogo C. CABRAL-DE-MELLO, Pedro LORITE

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 206-218, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.023  

Here, a comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of three species of tenebrionid beetles: Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, is presented. This paper also contains a review of the cytogenetic information for each species and adds new data. The male karyotype of both T. molitor and Z. morio is 2n = 18 + Xy_p, with large heterochromatic blocks in the pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes. The male A. diaperinus karyotype is 2n = 18 + X0, also with heterochromatic pericentromeric regions in all chromosomes. The location of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) differs in each...

Records of Aedes (Stegomyia) cretinus in Greece before and after the invasion of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)Minireview

Athanasios GIATROPOULOS, Georgios BALATSOS, Ioanna LYTRA, Vasileios KARRAS, George KOLIOPOULOS, Dimitrios PAPACHRISTOS, Antonios MICHAELAKIS

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 199-205, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.022  

This manuscript compiles all the available information on the presence of the native mosquito species Aedes cretinus in Greece, before and after the invasion of Aedes albopictus. Mosquito survey data particularly from the Region of Attica, as well as other areas in Greece indicate Ae. cretinus has become scarce since the invasion of Ae. albopictus, which is now widespread. This mini review on Ae. cretinus occurrence in Greece over the years indicates a marked decline in its populations that seems to be related to the prevalence of the invasive mosquito Ae. albopictus, and a need for more comprehensive entomological...

Book review: Blöchlinger H. 2023: Die Wollschweber der Schweiz. Diptera: Bombyli­idae. Fauna Helve­tica 34.Book review

M. SEMELBAUER

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 198, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.021  

Blöchlinger H. 2023: Die Wollschweber der Schweiz. Diptera: Bombyli­idae. Fauna Helve­tica 34. Centre suisse de cartographie de la faune, Neuchâtel, 166 pp., 215 figs, 40 distribution maps. ISSN 1422-6367, ISBN 978-2-88414-047-8. Price CHF 50.00. Bilingual German/French.

Book Review: van Noort S. & Broad G. 2024: Wasps of the World. A Guide to Every Family.Book review

P. BOGUSCH

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 197, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.020  

van Noort S. & Broad G. 2024: Wasps of the World. A Guide to Every Family. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 240 pp. ISBN 9780691238548. Price USD 29.95/GBP 25.00.

Kevinilla, a new velvet ant genus in the Sphaeropthalminae (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)Original article

Pedro R. BARTHOLOMAY, Roberto A. CAMBRA, Carlos W. RAMOS, Estibali WILKIE, Yostin J. AÑINO

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 182-196, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.019  

The new genus Kevinilla Bartholomay & Cambra includes the following four Neotropical species: Kevinilla ludovica (Cameron, 1895) comb. n. (the type species), K. bicarinata (Cambra & Quintero, 2008) comb. n., K. bimaculata (Cambra & Quintero, 2008) comb. n., and K. hansoni (Cambra & Quintero, 2008) comb. n., all transferred from Pseudomethoca. A neighbour joining tree clustered IST1 sequences of Kevinilla in a subclade of the main clade, which includes species of Pseudomethoca and Dasymutilla. Therefore, here Kevinilla is considered to be a member of the subfamily...

Adaptation of Apis mellifera jemenitica (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to high temperatures: Morphological, behavioural, and physiological aspectsReview

Yehya ALATTAL

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 173-181, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.018  

Temperature affects the distribution and success of Apis mellifera subspecies. To survive high temperatures in their natural habitats, unique adaptive traits have been evolved by various A. mellifera subspecies. A. mellifera jemenitica is a sub-tropical subspecies that is native to the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the most thermotolerant A. mellifera subspecies and the only subspecies that can successfully survive long summers with daily temperatures exceeding 45°C in the Arabian Peninsula. In hot, dry conditions and short seasons, A. m. jemenitica can successfully establish its colonies. In this article,...

A taxonomic review of Ptilomera from China, with descriptions of two new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae)Original article

Zhaoqi LENG, Beichen ZHANG, Zhen YE

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 146-172, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.017  

The species of Ptilomera Amyot & Serville, 1843 from China are reviewed. Two new species, Ptilomera acutidentata sp. n. and Ptilomera valida sp. n., are described from Yunnan, China. Diagnoses and new distribution records are provided for four previously recorded species, i.e., Ptilomera burmana D. Polhemus, 2001, Ptilomera hemmingseni Andersen, 1967, Ptilomera hylactor Breddin, 1903, and Ptilomera tigrina Uhler, 1860. Photographs and line drawings of the habitus, diagnostic characteristics of both sexes, habitat and in-situ photographs are presented. A distribution map of Ptilomera in China...

Use of powdered immunized insects for inhibiting Pectobacterium carotovorum infestation and promoting growth in lettuceOriginal article

Youngwoo CHO, Jun Ho LEE, Jangwoo PARK, Ki-Byung PARK, Mijeong KIM, Sung Su PARK, Sejung HWANG, Saeyoull CHO

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 134-145, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.016  

We induced immune activation in mass rearing experiments in three insect species, i.e., Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer, 1773 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), and Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe, 1886) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Lysosomal staining of immune cells was a little over 6% in the control group insects, whereas it ranged from 17-35% in insects immunized with Escherichia coli K12 or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The expression of attacin-like protein and defensin-like protein was also found to be upregulated at least 10-fold, and even up to 30-fold,...

Evidence of a South American origin for the Drosophila repleta group (Diptera: Drosophilidae)Original article

Andrea E. ACURIO

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 124-133, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.015  

The Drosophila repleta group is one of the most widely used model systems for studying adaptation and speciation. Traditionally, five subgroups are recognized within the repleta group: fasciola, hydei, mercatorum, repleta and mulleri. A sixth subgroup, inca, was the last to be defined. The inca species subgroup includes three species: Drosophila inca, Drosophila huancavilcae and Drosophila yangana, all of which are endemic to Ecuador and Peru. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have been inconclusive regarding the geographic location, time and mode of diversification...

Number of seminal follicles and ovarioles in Fulgoromorpha (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha): Variability and evolutionary trendsReview

Valentina G. KUZNETSOVA, Natalia V. GOLUB, Anna MARYAŃSKA-NADACHOWSKA

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 109-123, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.014  

In this paper data on the number of follicles in testes and the number of ovarioles in ovaries of planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) are summarised and discussed. Fulgoromorpha include about 14,000 described species belonging to 21 families distributed throughout the world. The number of follicles is known for 186 species, 123 genera and 17 families, and the number of ovarioles is known for 52 species, 44 genera and 11 families. Almost 80% of the species studied belong to the families Dictyophar­idae, Delphacidae, Issidae, Cixiidae and Achilidae. The number of follicles per testis and ovarioles per ovary varies within similar ranges, from 2 to...

Diapause in eastern North American populations of Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)Original article

John J. OBRYCKI, Catherine A. TAUBER, Maurice J. TAUBER

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 98-108, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.013  

Experiments examined the life histories and the effect of photoperiod on the expression of adult hibernal diapause in the Palearctic ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata, within 10 years of its discovery in North America. The study used beetles from two populations in eastern United States and focused on two aspects of diapause. First, the effects of daylength on the induction and depth (or duration) of diapause were examined by rearing and maintaining adult beetles from Tompkins County, New York, under six constant photoperiods until oviposition, death, or the passage of 125 days. Second, the seasonal progression of diapause maintenance...

The expression pattern of immunity-related genes in the immunized black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)Original article

Youngwoo CHO, Saeyoull CHO

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 83-97, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.012  

After immunizing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae using Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus thuringiensis, Bt) bacteria, we compared expression patterns across the whole genome. Compared to a control group treated with PBS buffer, the group immunized using Bt showed significant differences in the expression patterns of 2,312 genes. Similarly, the group immunized using E. coli showed significant differences in the expression patterns of 2,251 genes compared to the control. The groups immunized with E. coli and Bt both showed overexpression of genes involved in the extracellular...

Review of the cuticular lipids of spiders (Araneae)Review

Marek CHAJDUK, Cezary TKACZUK, Marek GOŁĘBIOWSKI

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 73-82, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.011  

Cuticular lipids are essential for the functioning of all arthropods. They maintain water balance, are involved in intraspecific and interspecific chemical communication and prevent fungal and bacterial infections. Although, the insect's lipid layer is relatively well known, that of spiders is considerably less well known. Only a few species are studied in terms of the identification and composition of cuticular lipids. The results obtained so far are discussed in this article. Spiders are subjected to various forms of extraction and in the majority of cases the subsequent analysis using GC-MS identified hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, esters, alcohols,...

Using citizen science data to compare flight phenology of two oligolectic bees (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) with the flowering of their host plantsOriginal article

Per MILBERG, Anna PALM

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 67-72, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.010  

Understanding the relationship between solitary bee flight and flowering phenology is globally relevant for environmental management and habitat restoration. Using Swedish citizen science data over an 11-year period, the flight behaviours of two oligolectic solitary bees (Andrena hattorfiana and Andrena marginata) were compared to the flowering phenology of their hosts (Knautia arvensis and Succisa pratensis) in southern Sweden. There were 2,327 and 4,566 records of flight and flowering, respectively. While associative studies cannot resolve the degree of oligolecty, a strong temporal association of Andrena hattorfiana...

Book review: Marquis R.J. & Koptur S. (eds) 2022: Caterpillars in the Middle. Tritrophic Interactions in a Changing World.Book review

M. RINDOŠ

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 64-66, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.009  

Marquis R.J. & Koptur S. (eds) 2022: Caterpillars in the Middle. Tritrophic Interactions in a Changing World. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, xx + 642 pp. ISBN 978-3-030-86687-7. Hardcover. Price EUR 42.79.

Functional analysis of two SfHsp90 genes in response to high temperature and insecticide stress in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)Original article

Hong-Yun RUAN, Lv ZHOU, Lei YANG, Jian-Yu MENG, Chang-Yu ZHANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 54-63, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.008  

Spodoptera frugiperda, a worldwide pest, can feed on 353 crops species, including corn, rice, and sorghum. It is highly adaptable to various environments. Heat shock protein 90 kDa (Hsp90) plays a crucial role in the environmental adaptation of insects. To explore the role of SfHsp90 genes coding for Hsp90 proteins in the high temperature and insecticides stress resistance of Spodoptera frugiperda, we identified the complete complementary DNA sequences of two SfHsp90s. Both of them were expressed at different developmental stages and tissues in S. frugiperda. The expression levels of the SfHsp90s were significantly...

DNA metabarcoding of gut microbiota reveals considerable taxonomic differences among wild individuals of the dung beetle Trypocopris pyrenaeus (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae)Original article

Gianluca NATTA, Samuele VOYRON, Erica LUMINI, Alex LAINI, Alfredo SANTOVITO, Angela ROGGERO, Claudia PALESTRINI, Antonio ROLANDO

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 40-53, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.007  

The gut microbiota of dung beetles comprises bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Most studies have only considered the bacterial element and focused on differences between species reared in the lab. This study considered microorganisms from the gut of Trypocopris pyrenaeus and concentrated on differences among wild individuals of an alpine Italian population. We revealed remarkable interindividual variation in the taxonomic composition of microbiota. Core taxa were few, while individuals harboured many exclusive taxa. Therefore, considering only a few individuals to describe the microbiota of a species is not sufficient. The study also revealed that...

Estimating the body size of orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) using the distance between their tegulaeShort Communication

Yostin AÑINO, Julio TRUJILLO, Abraham DE SEDAS, Alonso SANTOS, Anette GARRIDO, Dumas GÁLVEZ

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 37-39, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.006  

Body mass is an important morphological trait, which is associated with the physiology and ecology of insects. In the past, estimates of body mass were often based on general mathematical equations in which body mass was related to linear measurements of anatomical structures. For example, in female bees, estimates of dry body mass are expected to follow a non-linear relationship (power function) with the distance between the tegulae on their thorax, also known as the intertegular distance (ITD). Nonetheless, a major group of bees not included in previous studies are the Neotropical orchid bees of which mostly males are collected. We investigated whether...

Detritus-filled crotches - an overlooked tree-related microhabitat in Central EuropeOriginal article

Malte WEBER, Gerhard ZOTZ

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 31-36, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.005  

In the field of biodiversity research, tree-related microhabitats in the temperate zone have received substantial interest in the last decade, but one particular microhabitat type, crown microsoils in tree crotches, has largely escaped the attention of scientists. We present a study from Central Europe that focused on the meso- and macrofauna in this microhabitat type. In twelve crotches we found more than 3000 individual animals out of 14 orders, encompassing all major elements of the terrestrial soil decomposer food web. Collembola accounted for more than 50% of the total. As expected, taxon richness correlated with habitat size. We conclude that...

Book Review: Eaton E.R. 2021: Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect.Book review

M. RINDOŠ

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 29-30, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.004  

Eaton E.R. 2021: Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford, v+256 pp. ISBN 9780691211428. Hardcover. Price USD 29.95.

Effect of fungicide sprays on spiders in vineyardsOriginal article

Jo Marie REIFF, Christoph HOFFMANN, Martin H. ENTLING

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 19-28, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.003  

Spiders are the most abundant naturally occurring predators in vineyards and play a crucial role in natural pest control. However, vineyards are frequently sprayed with fungicides, which can harm spider communities. Fungus-resistant grape varieties can drastically reduce this fungicide input. The spiders on grape vines that were sprayed with a variable number of fungicide applications in 32 vineyards in different landscapes in Southwestern Germany were recorded. Vineyards received between 0 and 14 fungicidal sprays of varying toxicity (cumulated hazard quotients for honeybee up to 6). The majority of spiders benefited from a reduction in the number...

Stages in the degeneration of flight ability and their interspecific comparisons in the genus Synuchus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in JapanOriginal article

Takashi SHIMIZU, Kôhei KUBOTA, Hiroshi IKEDA

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 7-18, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.002  

The degeneration in flight ability in beetles has rarely been studied in detail with regard to the polymorphism of flight traits within species. However, intraspecific diversity in flight traits means that the flight ability of species is in the process of degenerating, which could provide important insights into how flight ability in beetles degenerates. In this study, the flight muscle and hind wings of the genus Synuchus in Japan were studied, which revealed the morphological status of flight traits in 21 species of Synuchus. Several species in this genus were found to show intraspecific polymorphisms in the states of the flight muscle...

Abiotic factors associated with the distribution of Mutilla europaea (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Northern EuropeOriginal article

Karl GUNNARSSON

Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 1-6, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.001  

The distribution of Mutilla europaea (Linnaeus, 1758), has never been carefully investigated in Northern Europe. The density of M. europaea is highest along parts of the coast in Northern Europe and its distribution overlaps the border of the temperate zone in this area, which is not surprising, given that it is well documented that temperature regulates the ecology of insect communities (presumably because temperature is associated with several physiological other adaptations and plastic responses). This paper presents new information on its distribution in Northern Europe and reveals that abiotic factors are associated with this...